Vinny DiTrani's NFL picks for Jan. 19

In Denver, a pair of future Hall of Fame traditional pocket passers hook up for the fourth time in the postseason. New England’s Tom Brady holds a 2-1 edge over the Broncos’ Peyton Manning in playoff competition.

Later in the day in Seattle, two of the young breed of mobile quarterbacks meet for the third time this season. The Seahawks’ Russell Wilson and San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick split their regular-season contests, each winning at home.

While the quarterbacks will be in the spotlight, the postseason has seen winning teams lean more on the kind of power running that has nearly disappeared in these pass-happy days of the NFL. Look for that trend to continue today.

AFC Championship Game

*Broncos over Patriots, giving 5 1/2 — Say what you want about Bill Belichick. But to lose Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Wes Welker from his offensive perimeter, and Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo and now Brandon Spikes from his defensive interior and still make the AFC title game is testimony to his coaching abilities.

Of course he still has Brady, who is 10-4 overall vs. Manning, including that amazing comeback from a 24-0 halftime deficit to a 34-31 win in November. Last week the Pats unleashed the running game featuring LeGarrette Blount on an overwhelmed Indianapolis defense.

This, however, appears to be Manning’s year. With a postseason neck examination threatening his future, he would love to go out with a second ring to match brother Eli’s total.

NFC Championship Game

49ers over *Seahawks, getting 3 1/2 — If you thought the 49ers’ win last week in Carolina was chippy, wait until these two teams get together for their rubber match. Both teams are very physical. The players don’t like each other. And the coaches don’t like each other dating to their Pac-12 days, the 49ers’ Jim Harbaugh at Stanford, the Seahawks’ Pete Carroll at USC.

In contrast to an anticipated high-scoring first game, this one should be a defensive struggle. Seattle will attempt to create another mini-earthquake by running Marshawn Lynch at that tough San Francisco defense. The 49ers, meanwhile, have a big edge in the receiving corps while the Seahawks have a much better secondary.

The overall matchups should make for a game closer to the 19-17 49ers win in December than the 29-3 Seahawks rout in September. This could come down to a field goal, perhaps in overtime.

Vinny DiTrani's NFL picks for Jan. 19

In Denver, a pair of future Hall of Fame traditional pocket passers hook up for the fourth time in the postseason. New England’s Tom Brady holds a 2-1 edge over the Broncos’ Peyton Manning in playoff competition.

Later in the day in Seattle, two of the young breed of mobile quarterbacks meet for the third time this season. The Seahawks’ Russell Wilson and San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick split their regular-season contests, each winning at home.

While the quarterbacks will be in the spotlight, the postseason has seen winning teams lean more on the kind of power running that has nearly disappeared in these pass-happy days of the NFL. Look for that trend to continue today.

AFC Championship Game

*Broncos over Patriots, giving 5 1/2 — Say what you want about Bill Belichick. But to lose Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Wes Welker from his offensive perimeter, and Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo and now Brandon Spikes from his defensive interior and still make the AFC title game is testimony to his coaching abilities.

Of course he still has Brady, who is 10-4 overall vs. Manning, including that amazing comeback from a 24-0 halftime deficit to a 34-31 win in November. Last week the Pats unleashed the running game featuring LeGarrette Blount on an overwhelmed Indianapolis defense.

This, however, appears to be Manning’s year. With a postseason neck examination threatening his future, he would love to go out with a second ring to match brother Eli’s total.

NFC Championship Game

49ers over *Seahawks, getting 3 1/2 — If you thought the 49ers’ win last week in Carolina was chippy, wait until these two teams get together for their rubber match. Both teams are very physical. The players don’t like each other. And the coaches don’t like each other dating to their Pac-12 days, the 49ers’ Jim Harbaugh at Stanford, the Seahawks’ Pete Carroll at USC.

In contrast to an anticipated high-scoring first game, this one should be a defensive struggle. Seattle will attempt to create another mini-earthquake by running Marshawn Lynch at that tough San Francisco defense. The 49ers, meanwhile, have a big edge in the receiving corps while the Seahawks have a much better secondary.

The overall matchups should make for a game closer to the 19-17 49ers win in December than the 29-3 Seahawks rout in September. This could come down to a field goal, perhaps in overtime.